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Plan or program · on the record since 2025 · discussed in 3 transcribed meetings

Affordable housing preservation

Affordable housing preservation has emerged as a consistent and cross-cutting priority across multiple City of Fairfax planning bodies.

approved

The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is the city's primary long-range land use and policy document, guiding development, housing, transportation, and related decisions. A five-year review process culminated on October 8, 2024, when City Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-24-30 approving the updated plan dated September 27, 2024.

  • Feb 2, 2026Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board · item 4in progress
    Committee Activity

    Housing goals/targets discussions included affordable housing preservation as part of broader Housing Trust Fund and Affordable Housing Strategic Plan goals discussed at the activity tables.

    minutesagenda
  • Apr 15, 2026Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board · item 2in progress
    Continue to Review Compiled Data

    Preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) was identified as an important strategy; members discussed adopting a preservation policy similar to Fairfax County's Affordable Housing Preservation Task Force, and noted recent and pending state legislation supporting NOAH preservation.

    minutesagenda
Other mentions
  • Mar 24, 2025Planning Commission · item WS-1
    Informational introductions of the Planning Commission to the new City Council

    [WS-1] Recent Planning Commission recommendations on redevelopment regarding the preservation of affordable housing were discussed.

    minutesagenda

In full

It was introduced at a March 2025 joint Planning Commission/City Council work session, where recent Planning Commission recommendations on redevelopment touching on preservation were discussed. By February 2026, the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan — described as the first of its kind in the city — was presented, with preservation identified as one of its three core focus areas alongside affordable housing development and strengthening community services; the plan was prompted in part by findings that 50% of renters and roughly 20% of homeowners in the city are cost-burdened. The plan was formally adopted in spring 2026.

At a February 2026 HHCAB activity session and a more detailed April 2026 HHCAB committee meeting, preservation of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) was specifically identified as an important strategy, with members discussing adoption of a policy modeled on Fairfax County's Affordable Housing Preservation Task Force and noting relevant state legislation. As of July 2026, HHCAB is actively working on refining Housing Trust Fund guidelines and has recommended that the fund be used to support both affordable housing preservation and development.